Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On a general point, we are reviewing the assets of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence all the time to try to get value for money for them, if they are not of strategic use to the Defence Forces, and to look to other State bodies to try to make full use of them. There are multiple examples of that in terms of barracks throughout the country. I have visited many of them and I have spoken to county managers when there is an interest from local authorities, for example, in Clonmel. We are doing what the Deputy said but she is talking about a specific case in Kildare and, to be honest, I would need to get a more detailed briefing on what is available and is not of strategic use to the Defence Forces.

We need to be careful as well in that the Defence Forces are primarily about providing defence to the State and they have a core role there.

We are not experts in providing shelter accommodation for people who are homeless. We should work with agents of the State who are. We did that quite successfully in Dublin in response to a difficult situation in the build-up to Christmas. We will examine this with an open mind but the Defence Forces must first and foremost focus on their own role in defending the State. Where there are difficulties concerning occupation of Defence Forces property by former Defence Force personnel, we must treat people fairly and at the same time ensure that the State gets value for money.

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